For over fourteen thousand years, the isolated Night Elves inhabited the mysterious, shadowy Ashenvale Forest. Six years ago, the Night Elves lost their immortality and their seclusion as a result of the cataclysmic events of the Third War against the demons of the Burning Legion. They have since built a new island home, atop the massive tree Teldrassil, but have yet to regain their lost immortality.
These tall, lithe, muscular, violet-skinned elves prefer to be active at night, when their moon goddess Elune shines down upon them through the sacred trees. They have mixed feelings about the impatient and snappish Archdruid Fandral Staghelm, who serves as a leader for their people and quests to regain their immortality. They also look to the kindly and wise High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind for spiritual guidance. Though they are members of the Alliance, they do not have close bonds with their fellow Alliance races, who seem to them little more than children. The Night Elves' hatred runs deep both for the demons of the Burning Legion who destroyed their home, and for the green-skinned orcs who continually rape their beloved Ashenvale Forest for lumber.
Available Classes: Warrior, Rogue, Priest, Hunter, Druid
Names: Night Elves' surnames refer to nature, and frequently incorporate nocturnal imagery of moon, stars, and shadow. These names often trace back for milennia. First names often exceed two syllables and have a melodious sound. (Examples from the game)
Hair: White, blue, green, or violet. Often worn long and loose, braided, or short and untidy.
Eyes: Have no pupil or iris, and emanate an eerie glow like that of a cat's in dim light. Traditionally silver, though golden eyes seem to have become more common in recent generations.
Skin: Typically a pale violet, some bluish, some closer to pink. Occasionally a pale milky, opalescent shade is seen.
Height/Weight: Males average 7 feet tall, leaner than humans but with bulging muscles. Females are slightly smaller and very curvaceous, but also lithe and well-muscled.
Age: A new adventurer will be between 305 and 372. 500 is "middle aged." The average night elf will die around 700 years of age, though heroes can live as long as 1200. Important: Night Elves used to be immortal. Aging only began six years ago, and there was no "penalty" for those already thousands of years old. So all living Night Elves aged 400+ appear around 400 or so (equivalent of late 20s) and will age at the normal rate starting now.
Social Status: Respect in the Night Elf culture is based largely on age and deeds rather than bloodlines. Druids and Priests are given a special reverence, however.
Family: There is nothing anywhere in Blizzard lore to suggest that Night Elves have a legal "marriage" ceremony or a traditional family structure, though a few extraordinary pairs of lovers do have lifelong soul-bonds. DP, for the purposes of character creation, and based upon what we can glean from the game and Warcraft fiction, is assuming a matriarchal line of descent and a somewhat "free" approach to taking lovers. We are also assuming that the birth of a child is extremely rare, and twins nearly unheard of.
Hometown: Your starting area is Teldrassil, but remember that Teldrassil (and its city of Darnassus) did not even exist until 6 years ago... which feels like just yesterday for one as long lived as you. You grew up somewhere on the mainland of Kalimdor, likely in Ashenvale Forest, either in a small town or deep in the wilderness.
Sample concepts: Keen-eyed trapper, snobbish weaponmaster, feral shapechanger, shadowy assassin, rebellious archer, fragile zealot, vengeful ecoterrorist, reclusive philosopher.
Good Diamond Words: ALOOF, COMPASSIONATE, HONORABLE, JUDGMENTAL, JUST, MYSTERIOUS, PASSIONATE, PATERNAL/MATERNAL, PRACTICAL, RECLUSIVE, REVERENT, SPIRITUAL, SUPERIOR, SUPERSTITIOUS, WARY
Generic Backstory: You are 320 years old, little more than a child to your people, but still wiser than the oldest humans. You had a peaceful childhood in a small village in Ashenvale Forest, and had planned to pursue your mother's trade until six years ago, when the peace of your homeland was shattered. First orcs came, chopping down trees that were like brothers and sisters to you. Then came the Burning Legion, fiery demonic beings so horrid that your people (along with the rest of the world) fought alongside the dreadful orcs and destroyed the miraculous World Tree on Mount Hyjal just to be rid of them. Though you are devastated by the loss of the World Tree (and with it many of your loved ones and your own immortality), you know your people could not have defeated the Burning Legion without the help of the humans and their Alliance. You have vowed now to assist the Alliance in whatever way you can, and your elders have sent you to Teldrassil for training.
Official Night Elf Page